Knocking on Ohio's Door -- My Amazing Weekend

I did something this weekend that renewed my faith in this country, and made me feel great about being an American. I reached out to my "neighbor" about this election - although the neighbor lived 1000 miles away.

I went to Gallipolis, Ohio - a village on the Ohio River, where Ohio borders West Virginia. I took myself from New York City into the "battleground" of this election, and listened and talked to the people who are going to decide it. (As most of you know, there are 6 battleground states... and in most of those states, there are a handful of counties and precincts that are going to sway this election.)

Gallipolis is one of the few places in America that has not been "homogenized." Just when you think that everywhere in America looks like everywhere else, this town doesn't look OR sound like it. For one thing, they pronounce the name of their town "Ga-lip-Police." (The locals, of course, are allowed to mispronounce it "gallipolie" or "gallipol-es"... you would be well-advised to say "gallop-police.")

The next town is called Rio Grande, and it's pronounced "R-eye-oh Grand." As the Mayor of Rio Grande told me "We have our own language in these parts."

Political campaigns tend to forget this part of America. The Obama organizer in Gallia County (a Harvard senior from rural Connecticut who gave up his first semester for Obama) told me "This is where Gore and Kerry lost Ohio." When someone from a campaign walks up to someone's door, there's surprise, then a little bit of ranting (as in "well, finally someone's listening, let me hit them with everything you've got"), and then ... real talk. "Sit down on the porch" talk.

I spent my time talking to what the Obama campaign and Gallia County's organizers call "persuadables" - voters who had been Hillary supporters and needed a little extra work, Independent voters, or Republicans who at one time or another had been involved in a Democrat's campaign. And I had some of the best conversations about jobs, gas prices, Iraq, race, religion and abortion that I've ever had in my life. They were free from rancor, from easy "sound bites," and from the usual political rhetoric you see the pundits slinging every day on the air.

I walked for two days, knocked on over 100 doors and spoke to over 50 voters. By Sunday, I'd "gone rogue" and went beyond the "persuadables" list, talking to anyone who was sitting on the front porch. Even the McCain people were cheerful when they told me that I was wasting my breath.

A lot of the comment about this year's election has centered on a powerful shift in the voting base. I think I saw some of that this weekend. People here tend to be lifelong party members. If you've been a Republican, it's gut-wrenching to say you're going to vote for Barack Obama. But I heard it. On the other hand, I also talked with a woman who was SO Democratic that she once forbade her son to play Abraham Lincoln in the school pageant, and she told me she might not pull the lever for Obama because of his switch on public financing and his support of FISA.

They are rewriting their political alliances out of a life-and-death sense that this country has gone horribly wrong. When you've been paying $50 a month for gasoline to drive to work, and now it's $50 a week, that's real. When you're losing your job because the competition is overseas, and you know in your heart it's because we're just not competitive for so many reasons... that's bad. When your kids are supposed to be educated in the "No Child Left Behind" program, but the school can't afford the supplies or the teachers prescribed by the program, you start wondering what's really wrong.

But I didn't hear simple answers from them - part of that is because there's a real distrust of Washington and Government in general. But part of it is that they know there are no simple answers. A lot of them are going to vote for Barack because they hate the way things are going now... but they also say he's "the lesser of two evils." The way things have been going over the past decade has played havoc on their lives.

This is cattle country and trucker country. (The main reaction I got to telling people I was from New York was "Oh, that George Washington Bridge... it's 100 bucks for a semi to cross!") We talked about how bad the highways in this country are, and the railroads, and how the country can't even ship its own goods any more.

This is ironworker country. People are losing their jobs to foreign trade, and they know it. But one ironworker told me how he and his buddies had erected a giant "Iron Barack" statue outside their plant.

I had some amazing moments -- I knocked on the door of a couple from India who will become citizens on the 18th of this month, and had the great privilege of handing them voter registration cards.

I had some weird moments... one guy told me how afraid he was that Barack, the first Black President, would get assassinated... "And it'll all be on me." Another woman told me that there wasn't any reason to vote, that the End of Days was coming. I tried to convince her that, just as an insurance policy for her grandkids, she might want to cast a vote for Barack.

I talked to a Gulf War (the first one) vet who told me "I had Osama right in my sights... then they called us off... this is all about a fight between two oil families, the Bushes and the Bin Ladens." He'll vote Obama... as long as I convinced him that registering to vote only made him liable to do jury duty once in a while.

There are a LOT of Hillary supporters here. For the most part, they'll end up voting for Barack - but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done to get them to understand that Barack and Hillary share the same goals.

No one I spoke to was buying Sarah Palin. The women turn their nose up at her (and these are the hard-scrabble types Sarah's supposed to appeal to). "How dare they think we'll vote for her just because she's a woman!" A lifelong Republican took Palin's nomination as proof that "McCain has been bought by the Right Wing of the party... I used to like him."

Like I said, it was an amazing weekend. And you can do it, too...

Here's how:

Go to mybarackobama.com. Register. Search for caucuses and "out of town" groups in the battleground states. You'll find events hosted by Obama organizers in Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Michigan, Ohio, and New Hampshire.

Call the organizer up. Introduce yourself. If there really isn't enough going on for you to come out for, they'll tell you. (A number of Pennsylvania and Ohio organizers did just that.) But if you're lucky, you'll find someone like Seth Bannon, the Gallipolis organizer who was my host this weekend.

Most places can put you up for a night or two - there are plenty of Obama supporters everywhere who would welcome you. Or, enjoy the wonders of the Super 8! (They'll leave the light on for you, and if you leave your button on, you might have the experience I had of recruiting a new volunteer for the campaign.)

And start walking, start knocking, start talking. You WILL make a difference. I went to the Volunteer Fireman's Festival in Rio Grande on Saturday night, and Seth and I were "celebrities" (but not like Paris Hilton, I promise) because we had traveled all the way to this part of Ohio to talk about Barack Obama.

The old "organizer's handbook" says that every three people you talk to equals a vote. In some parts of this country, the election turned on 8-10 votes... precincts turn to counties turn to states... It all adds up.

We can win this election! But we're in for the fight of our lives... and this is one way to go to the battlegrounds.

Comments

[enilorac]

Uuum
I live in New York City, but I wish I could take off tonight to be among these people.
They sound really smart and really real and sensible enough not to vote for the McCain/Palin McMansion of More of the Same.
As Jesus said, "My Mansion has many rooms and there will be room for You" (allegorically speaking).
I just hope people all over the country, enough of them, go into the right mansion,as the wrong one is going to make them even more uncomforable than they have been over the past 8 years.

[OliviaZ]

Fred,
thank you for writing this post. I leave for Akron tomorrow and will spending the next few weeks volunteering in the southeastern part of Ohio, also known as Ohio Appalachia. Once there I will do much of the same work you described: knocking on doors, registering voters and just talking about the state and future of this country. I'm a bit nervous, but your post is inspiring. I look forward to getting involved.

Olivia Zaleski

[JustMeLe]

Excellent! And if you can't go out knocking on doors... donate!!!

[LeeAlex]

Amazing.Yesterday I was telling a co-worker about visiting Gallipolis on a tour a few years back. After I told my story, he told me the equivalent of "Oh, well, things change, tough." I guess he didn't get my point that I felt the middle of everything was dropping out of the country, including the middle class and the invisible contract we had to work for America, in every sense of the phrase, and in return have America work for us.

Gallipolis is a lovely town, with a town square that fronts directly on to the river, but I remember how much the town was hanging on to visits from tourists, cruises and so on. I walked through the town that day and talked to people, asking what it's been like. I heard is that their kids either leave town or go "up on the hill" to work for WalMart. There is no industry. You drive along the river and see shuttered factories. Some towns along the river limp along and up on the hill are the new McMansions and the like. (How many are in foreclosure now?)

This is where they hang their hat. But how can it remain home if it can't fully support itself and the town's needs? How can it be home if the family has to split up even if it doesn't want to? The people who probably most support American values in the true sense have been hung out to dry.

[kalimuzo]

God bless you for all your work. That is the bottom line. do not sit at home and worry, get out there and talk to your neighbours and friends and make a difference. I am in Houston and I talk to a lot of people here that you would never expect to be an Obama supporter and they tell you that they are hurting and that the republicans screwed things up so bad and they want change. The media and the punidts might think trivial things like lipstick and such work, but the reality is people are losing jobs and they are serious about change.

[PghDemocrat]

I volunteered at an Obama rally two weeks ago in a small town outside of Pittsburgh. Before the event began I had a conversation with a WWII vet that stopped by my park bench to chat. We had a wonderful conversation about everything from politics to war to parades. Once the event began I was assigned to the area roped off for those with special needs and had the opportunity to speak with individuals or various races, genders and ages.

Yes, this was an Obama rally so of course everyone there was supporting the democrats, but I had the same feeling of community and renewed faith. People from all walks of life were genuinely interested in talking about what is going on in this country. Their stories were inspiring. A veteran that came to the event after having both her hips replaced; an older couple that began volunteering for Obama 'way back before he had a shot in the primaries' and joked about how they now report to a twenty-year old - they were impressed by how organized all those 'kids' are; a Clinton supporter that turned the corner for Obama after hearing him and Hillary at the convention; and a lifelong Democrat that started volunteering because it was just what she did but after hearing Obama speak at the convention finally fond her enthusiasm for the candidate.

Cheers to you, Mr. Graver, for volunteering. It is a great experience that I hope more people share.

[gurukalehuru]

Good job and good post.
One thing that bothers me, though, is people who say Barack Obama is the "lesser of two evils."
Admittedly, that is usually the case, but not this time around.
Barack Obama is a good man. I don't agree with him on everything, and I'm sure he's made some political compromises on the way, but he is a good man. Intelligent, reasonable, calm, compassionate and eloquent.
McCain, on the other hand, is evil personified.

[jcwtts1]

The line that Obama needs to steal is 50 a month for gas has turned into 50 a week.

J

[marytny]

I agree with you. Great line. Watch McCain steal it...

[Charmed]

Thank you for such an inspiring speech....sometime we get caught up in the negatives of what McCain is doing and get distracted from the task at hand.....it's time work even harder now.

[Indepatriot]

Ah, the power of participatory Democracy! All you Chicken Littles out there take note; this is the ONLY WAY WE WIN. Sign up now and DO SOMETHING for our country instead of scurrying around like a bunch of frightened children. I worked for Barack in the Ca. primary and the experience was so empowering it literally changed the way I think about politics. This is Our Country! and we can take it back if we all pitch in and work for it. Just so happens I signed up to go to Nevada for Obama in October about 10 minutes before I read Fred's post. This is what democracy is all about, get involved now or you don't get to whine if McCain wins. What better place than here? What better time than now? Yes We Can if we all get off the couch and get with the program.C'mon Brothers and Sisters, the future of our country depends on us.

[maribelle1963]

Mr. Graver--thank you from the bottom of my heart. For going and for writing about it. THis is the most encouraging thing I've read in days.

Okay, you've convinced me. I'll contact the campaign tomorrow. I have friends in PA and NH and I can devote several weekends to this in the next few weeks.

Here's hoping---with audacity.

[obama4eva]

GOOD JOB!!! IM IN PA AND DOING MY PART!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jonahbasset]

Wow, Fred! Wow! Amazing story indeed! I've driven through and stopped for lunch or gas many times in Gallipolis during my travels through Ohio, but never had any reason to stay beyond that. And you have completely, and quite pleasantly, blown my entire perception of the town. Thanks for restoring a little of my faith in this country too. :-)

[frustratedhonestyfreak]

This is what is needed. I wish I had the temperment to do what you are doing...I'm afraid I would lose my temper when confronted with the lies. I honestly believe that to drag Obama's campaign down to the McCain level is not worth it. Even after seeing today's despicable sex education slander of Obama by McCain I think that you have to recognize that McCain is the loser...of his honor and hopefully of his votes. You have to have something to believe in and if it isn't that there are ways to win without lowering our standards, then the fight is not worth it. Something like, I'd rather lose an election than stoop to McCain's level. I'm 63 years old and I have watched the decline of integrity in this country and been heartsick. But we do have to fight for Obama. With money and with time. I might get enough nerve to make phonecalls.

[BLinCincinnati]

At 63 you are the perfect spokesperson for Barack in a lot of areas. People are far more likely to listen to someone your age, your life experience gives you a bit more weight than a 20 something knocking on doors, especially if the person answering is over 45.

Just start with your neighbors. They know you and will be far more receptive to you than you think. Then talk to all of your relatives and friends. Get everyone you know on board, then encourage them to get involved. Even if they don't get involved, if they are supporting Obama, and someone brings up the conversation they'll help spread the word just by saying "Well a friend of mine is really involved in this stuff and he convinced me that Obama is the best choice." That alone will hold some influence over whoever that person is talking to.

[athenasword]

I lived most of my life in Ohio. Most of my family is there. And, what you've described here matches the conversations I've had with Ohioans. My Dad - an old crusty white guy who is a Korean war vet - goes down to the local McDonalds a few times a week. They discuss politics down there over bad coffee, and he tells me that most folks support Obama. And, they support him for the exact reasons you mention: the shocking cost of filling up their gas tanks, vanishing jobs, higher food prices and an intense dislike for Bush/Cheney politics. They are fed up. And, they just need a nudge to get beyond some old biases and assumptions.

I'm not there right now, so I'm glad that the grassroots folks are out on the front porches, having these kinds of rational, meaningful conversations. Thanks! (I'll just keep sending $)

[jeanrenoir]

How can we square this hopeful report from the Ohio heartland with the near unanimous evidence of the polls that Obama's in real trouble?

[athenasword]

Cuz the polls can be false indicators. But, they are self-fulfilling prophecy too... if we hear the polls, believe the polls, then we follow what we think is the direction of the herd. Even if they are not accurate...

[BLinCincinnati]

Because the news media doesn't want it to be anything but a close race. There was a report the other day showing how all the truly independant pollsters were showing Obama ahead in the EC vote but all the news organizations had the EC map nearly tied.